Agnikul Cosmos has commissioned a large-format additive manufacturing facility for aerospace and rocket systems in Chennai. The facility enables the design, printing, testing and delivery of rocket engines and components, including parts up to one metre in height, which were previously difficult to manufacture.
The new unit allows the production of engines capable of delivering seven times more thrust than earlier models, with manufacturing possible within days. The facility also includes an in-house developed de-powdering machine for post-processing, designed to ensure space-grade quality without reliance on external suppliers.
The company stated that the facility houses India’s largest 3D metal printer for space technology systems, the M 4K system from AMCM, an EOS Group company. The system offers a large build volume of 450 x 450 x 1,000 cm and includes an optional beam shaping feature with a range of 85 to 210 micrometres. It supports a build height of up to one metre and is equipped with four fibre lasers of 1 kW and 1.2 kW FLX each. The setup also features a PowTReX powder extraction & recovery system from Volkmann, which enables the efficient reclaiming and processing of excess metal powder, after it has been used in a print job.
“By developing not just printing capacity but also full-scale machines in-house, we are equipping ourselves to build space transportation systems faster, bringing us one step closer to taking Agnikul’s innovations and our customers to space,” said Srinath Ravichandran, co-founder and CEO.
The company already holds a US patent for single-piece 3D-printed rocket engines. With this facility, it aims to cut both costs and delivery times for flight-ready hardware. “Our goal has always been to make access to space reliable and cost-effective. With this facility in place, we are advancing our own launch readiness and also helping shape the foundation for a self-sustaining and globally competitive space industry in India,” said Moin SPM, co-founder and COO.
In 2021, the M 4K system from AMCM was also delivered to Launcher, an American space technology company, for the manufacture of a 10 ton-force E-2 rocket engine to deliver small satellites to low Earth orbit.
Founded at IIT Madras, Agnikul is developing launch vehicles under the Agnibaan programme to deliver small satellites to orbit on demand. The company has raised USD 45 million from investors including Celesta Capital, Rocketship.vc, Mayfield India, pi Ventures and Speciale Invest.
Agnikul Cosmos is a Chennai-based space technology company incubated at IIT Madras. It focuses on developing small satellite launch vehicles and advanced additive manufacturing techniques for rocket systems. The company holds a US patent for single-piece 3D-printed rocket engines and has secured funding from multiple venture capital firms.